Big Brother Turns 5

Dear Big Brother,

I can't believe you're 5 now. Didn't you just turn 4?

A lot has happened over the last year.

You've started pre-school, to which you've adjusted quite well. I love the
excitement of your voice when you talk about your school activities, aka "centers".

I'm jealous that you get to do your homework in blue crayon.

We have our first parent-teacher conference this week; and Mom-E & I are terrified excited to hear what your teacher has to say about you.

You're a good Big Brother even though sharing toys is hard sometimes. You're adjusting well following the arrival of Bab-E Brother. You've been Mom-E and Dad-E's excellent helper. Although it's not always the case, you're often very patient with Little Brother, and the two of you are becoming good friends.

You're still a picky eater, but we've made some progress through the use of sticker charts. You've even started to indulge in some vegetables. We went through a cucumber-obsessed phase, but for a while now you've settle on green peppers as your favorite.

I'm not sure if there's a genetic component to it, but your penchant for green peppers "brings warm feelings to my heart." When I was about your age, I would go grocery shopping with my mom and eat raw green peppers while sitting in the cart. I'm just happy that you're finally eating some vegetables. Hopefully green peppers are an available side dish at Granola Bar Hut.

You love to hear about funny things you said when you were "little." "When I was a baby, I called the kitchen the 'chicken'." Fortunately, you still have a few enjoyable phrases, particularly referring to instructions as 'constructions', and saying "I haven't done that in 100 years" (for things that are brand new).

Your charming personality has blessed you with friends at school and elsewhere. Mom-E and I have been pleasantly surprised to see you (when you don't realize we're watching) "take charge". (We never doubted your leadership skills, it's just that when you're around us in social situations, you're usually more shy and quiet.) You led your peers in a bell ringing celebration of The Polar Express at school. At your birthday party, you were the ring-leader of your buddies as you tooled around the "jumping place" (without ANY concern for Mom-E or Dad-E's whereabouts--hey, you're not allowed to grow up that fast).

This past year has also brought an evolution in your interests. Bob the Builder and Thomas the Train are giving way to an obsession with Super Heros. When it comes to tv and toys, your preferences these days (in no particular order), include Transformers, Thundercats, Batman, and Spiderman. If we're not watching them on tv or playing with toys, then we're building them with Legos.

And if we're not doing any of the above, then we're dressing like Spidey, and running around the house playing "Joker" and "Batman" and "Spiderman" (which pretty much consists of Dad-E chasing you and Little Brother around the house throwing blankets at each other shooting webs:


Keep up the good work, dude. Exciting times are ahead. I'm proud of you.

I love you, buddy,
Busy-Dad-E